Permutation lock



Feb. 19 1924. 1,483,993 v F. W. SPROWLES ET AL I I PER-MUTATION LOCK Filed July :51. 1922 afsh ets-sheet 1 Q @i Q 0 JJVI Z/V'TORS fian% Wfirnwles WITNESSES! I m L z/a ass THEIR ATTORNEY "eb. '19 1924., v 1,483,993

- F. w. SPROWLES ET AL v PERMUTATION LOCK riledquly 31 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I I f/VVENTOHS I s Hard V/Spmwkg i BY VVz'ZZz'am EJ511206 THERATTORA/E Y Feb. 19, 1924. m w s F. w. SPROWLES ET AL PERMUTATION LOCK. I Filed July 51 192g 5 sheets-sheet, 5

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W512 ATTORNEY be assembled and access had thereto.

Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

uNrrEn stars PEEMUTATION LOCK.

Application filed July 31, 1922. Serial No. 578,554.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, FRANK W. Srnownns and WILLIAM C. FAUNon, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia,

county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation Locks,,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to locks and more especially to permutation locks.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a lock which may be readily adjusted for operation by different combina- ,tions, which may be readily operated without key or dial by one familiar withthe combination for which it is adjusted but cannot be operated by one unfamiliar with the combination, and to provide means for locking the bolt in idle or looking position.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, we attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a look constructed in accordance with the invention, Figure 2' is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the section line 22 of Figures 1 and 3, Figure 3 is a vertical sectionalfview taken on the line 33 of Figure 2,;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is avertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the bolt and tumblers, and

Figure"? is a. fragmentary side elevation showing a modified form of friction brake. Inthe drawings, 1 is a casing, preferably rectangular and provided with removable walls 2 and 3 through which the device ay ne end of the casing is provided with an inwardly extending hollow projection 4 and the other end with an opening 5. A bolt 6,

preferablv of rectangular-cross section, slides in projection 4 and opening 5, and 1s providedon its upper face, preferably near one end, with a rack 7, and on its 'bottomface with a series of transverse grooves 8,1p-referably. five in number, the inner of which is located adjacent the inner end of the bolt.

A transverse shaft 9 journaled horizontally in the front and back walls of the casing and has apinion 10 fixed thereto in' position to mesh with rack 7 while'its outerend carries. a knurled head 11 bywhich it may be turned to project or retract thebolt. It also carries a double-action cam 12;

5 P TE T CFFEQEQ A rod 13 is fixed in the ends ofthe casing parallel to and directly beneath bolt 6; LA

number offiatcircular tumblers 14, preferably four, are rotatably mounted upon rod 13 and maintained in spacedrelation to cor,- respond with the spacing of grooves 8. Each tumbler is provided with. aperipheral notch 15,.corresp'onding in outline .to the cross sectionof bolt 6, a series of'ratchet teeth 16 in its periphery and anumberof apertures 17 spaced from periphery and preferably arranged in an arc concentric with the arc of teeth 16. ,,Notches 15 are'normal ly held out of alignment with bolt ,6 by weighted I stop pins 18 removably inserted inapertures 17 or by contractile springs 19 connected with the tumblers and the bottom 'of the casing. Rotation ofit he tumblers is limited by abutments 2O anchored in the; bottomo'f tliecasing alongside each tumbler and adapted to engagethe stop pins. i

Plungers 21, .p'referablyfi of rectangular cross section, corresponding in number to the number of vtumblers, are slidable; through openings 22 in the front of thecasing and project into the casing. -A'bar231is fixed inlth'e ends of the casing andhas .a series of vertical links 2 f pivotally connecting. it with the inner ends-of the plungers. The

plungers are-held outward by springs 25,

their outward movement being limited by pins 26 engaging the inner faceof the front wallof the casing.

- PaW-ls27- are pivoted to links 24, project inwardly toengage teethlo'a'iid are'?no r mally held in engagementby springs 28 mounted on bar 23 and on the pawls. if I I A" squared shaft 29 is itmounted to turn inythe ends ofr-thet casing above plungers 21 and has a cross arm 30 fixed thereon. Upper and lower push-pins 31 and 32 are pressing upwardly mounted in apertures in the front of the casing above the plungers have'their inner ends pivotally connected to the ends 013 cross arm-30. By pushing one'pln' inward,

the shaft may be rocked in one direction and by pushing the other pin inward, it may be rocked in the other direction. Springs 33 are fixed to the front of the casing and engage notches 34 in the pins to hold rocker shaft 29 in fixed positions at the limits of its movements. Levers 35 are fixed to shaft 29 adjacent each tumbler 14 and have transverse resilient brake shoes 36 at their inner ends to frictionally engage tumblers 14 and hold themagainst turning, as shown in Figure 3. The shorter arms of levers 35 are connected to pawls 27 by links 37 having slotted connection with the levers as indicated at 38 so that the levers or pawls may move slightly without aflecting the position of the other. An arm 39 is' fix'ed to shaft 29for' engagement by' therefor are alike in construction and the description and illustration in Figure 3 will suifice for all. Tumbler shown in Figure 3 is set by inserting pin 18 in the top aperture 17 and when pin 18 is against abut- 1n ment 20, pawl 23 is in the lowest notch of teeth 16. In this position, four depressions of plunger 21 are required to step the tumbler-and bring notch 15 into alignment with bolt 6. By changing'the position of pin -18to the 1 second aperture 17, three depressions will be required to bring notch 15 into alignment-with bolt 6 and by inserting pin 18 in the third or lowest aperture 17, two depressions will be required to elfect the same result. By varying the number of notches l6 and the number of apertures 17, as well as the relations of notch 15 thereto, the number of depressions required to bring notch-15 into alignment with bolt 6 may be varied from one up to an indefinite number.

In operation of the device, assuming that the bolt- 6 is retracted or drawn to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, the four forward grooves 8 of the bolt will line up with tumblers 14, and if brakes 36 are released by pressing pin 32' or turning cam 12, weights 1 8 and springs 19 will immediately turn the tumblers in a clockwise direction until stop pins 18 engage abutments 20.- In this position, notches 15 will be out of alignment with bolt 6 and the tumblers will hold the bolt against movement. As springs 25' normallyhold plungers 21 out bolt as shown.

wardly and springs 28 hold pawls 27 in position to engage notches 16 in the tumblers, when brake shoes 36 are released by pressing pin 32, shaft 29 will be rocked, the

inner ends of levers 35 will be raised and the outer ends lowered and, through links 37, cause downward movement of pawls 27 against springs 28. This will clear the pawls from the path of teeth 16 and permit free turning of the tumblers. Springs 33 will alternately engage notches 34 in pins 31 and 32 to hold the brake shoes in operative vand released positions. These parts maybe operated automatically upon turning shaft 9 by its head 11 to retract the bolt when pinion 10 is turned in an anticlockwise direction in mesh with rack -7. When shaft 9 is turned, cam 12 Will engage arm 39 and. exert upward pressure thereon to raise it and rock shaft 29 so that pawls 27 will be moved downwardly and automatically released and the tumblers will immediately lock the bolt in an unlocked or drawn position.

In the locking operation, brake shoes 36 are first applied, stop pins 18 having been set in one of the apertures 17 of each tumbler to set the combination, and the four outer-grooves '8' of the bolt being in position to permit the tumblers to turn, plungers 21 are pressed inwardly to. step the tumblers by engagement of pawls 27 with teeth 16, the required number of times to brin V notches 15 in alignment with bolt 6, w ich position tumblers are held by. the brakes. Assuming the combination to be- 4 2- 3-4, the pins 18 of the tumblers 14 will have been set to require a corresponding number of depressions of pluiiger's 21 to bring notches 15 into alignment with bolt 6. Then, upon turning head 11 and shaft 9 in a clockwise direction, pinion 510 will be correspondingly turned into mesh with rack 7 to project the bolt to the full line position shown in Figure 6, for locking the At the limit of movement of the bolt, the brakes are releasedby pressing on pin 32, or automatically by engage ment of cam 12 with arm '39 upon turning shaft 9, thus automatically moving 'pawls 27 downwardly out of path ofteeth -16,-so that the tumblers will turn through the four inner grooves'8' of the bolt and lock the bolt in a projected or locked position in engagement with a suitable keeper.

The device shown in Figure 3 is arranged so that pawl 27 will engage with the first, lower notch 16 of the adjacent tumbler 14 when stop 18' is against abutment 20 and the bolt is in drawn or looking positions. Four de ressions of plungers 21 are then required to turn tumbler 14 the proper de:

greeto bring notch 15 in the path of bolt By varying the position of pin 18,-the distance which the notch. 15 moves away from the bolt is changed and may be regulated so that the number of depressions of the plunger required to turn the tumbler and bring notch 15 in alignment with the bolt by engagement of pawl 27 with the teeth 16, may be varied to alter the comin the path of the bolt6 to permit sliding of the bolt. In-the form shown, the limit is four but by providing the proper number of notches l6 and apertures 17, the limit may be raised. and the number of combinations indefinitely varied. While the lock 'is especially adapted for'use in connection with automobiles to connect or disconnect the steering wheel hub with the post, it is to be understood thatthe lockmay be applied to various other uses.

While we have described our invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be 'changeld without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction set forth, but consider that we are at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letter Patent is Y 1. In a permutation look; a casing; a bolt slidable therein; means for actuating the bolt, and means automatically movable into the path of the bolt for holding the bolt in locked and unlocked positions.

2. In a permutation look; a movable bolt; means for shifting the bolt; tumblers normally locking the bolt against movement; means for moving the tumblers to release the bolt; means for holding the tumblers against movement, and means for automatically releasing the holding means when the bolt reaches locked or unlocked positions.

3. In a permutation look; a movable bolt; means for shifting the bolt; tumblers. normally locking the bolt against movement; means for moving the tumblers to release the bolt; means for holding the tumblers against movement, and means automatically operative upon movement of the bolt at the limits of its movement for releasing the tumbler holding means.

4. In a permutation look; a movable bolt; means for shifting the bolt; tumblers normally looking the bolt against movement and normally positioned to hold the bolt against movement; means for moving the tumbler to release the bolt; means for holding the tumblers against retrograde movepermit the tumblers to hold the bolt againstment when shiftedto lpermit movement of the bolt, and means for simultaneously :releasing the holding and moving means ,to

movement. 1

5. In a permutation lock; means for shifting the bolt; tumblersnormally locking the bolt against movement;

- s i i 5570' amov-ablebolt;

means for operating-the tumblers to release I I I the bolt; and means co-operative between the: bolt actuating means and the tumbler oper-H ating means for automatically releasing the locking means upon movement of the ,bolt

to locked or unlocked position.

- 6. Ina permutation look; a cas1ng;"abolt slidable therein; means to shift the bolt to projected or retracted positions; mean for locking .the bolt when shifted to either of said positions and means automatically operative,u-ponactuation of the bolt to. set

the'holding means.

7 .In a permutation look; a movablebolt having notches; means for shifting the bolt; tumblers normally locking the bolt against movement and having, notches adapted to align with the. bolt; means for moving tumblers to bring their notches in-alignment with and releasethe bolt, and brake shoes for holding the tumblers against movement v i 1'3 v 8. In a. permutation lock; a movable bolt; a set of rotatable tumblers adapted to move into the path of the bolt tohold it against movement when drawn or projected and to be moved to positions permitting movement of the bolt; means for rotating the tumblers; releasable means for holdingthe tumblers against rotation; adjustable means for limiting the rotation of the tumblers,

locked or unlocked position. 9. In a permutation lock, the "combina-' tion of a casing; a sliding. bolt; a setof rotatable tumblers mounted in the casing adapted to move into the path of the bolt to hold it against movement when drawn or projected; means for stepping the tumblers to move them into position to permit the bolt to be drawn or projected; means to hold the tumblers against movement, and

means for automatically releasing the holding means upon the bolt being drawn or pro jected to permit the tumblers to move into the path of the bolt.

10. In a permutation having a rack on one face and a series of grooves in another face; a shaft having a look, a movable bo'ltpinion engaging the rack; a set of rotatable tumblers adapted to move-into the path of the bolt through the grooves and having notches to align with the bolt whereby the bolt may be shifted; means for operating the tumblers; -means to hold the tumblers against movement, means to turn the turnblers upon release of the holding means to move the notches out of alignment with the bolt whereby the bolt will be held against movement; and cam means on said shaft for automatically releasing said holding means when said bolt reacheslocked or unlocked positions.

11. In a permutation lock, the combination of a casing; a bolt slidable in the casing and having uniformly spaced grooves its bottom face; tumblers rotatable in the casing, having edge notches, and being of a number one less than the number of grooves in the bolt; the tumblers having notches to align with the bolt and adapted to move into the grooves to lock the bolt in projeotedor drawn positions; means for turning the tumblers in one direction; adjust-able means for limiting the turning of the tumblers with the notches out of align me-nt with the bolt; p-lungers having paWls engaging the notchesto turn the tumblers upon depression of the plungers; means for moving the bolt; brake means including a rock shaft having brake shoes having connection with the pawls and adapted to engage the tumblers to hold the tumlblers against turning, and means to rock the shaft for releasing the brake means and pawls to permit the tumblers to be turned into the grooves of the bolt to hold'the latter against movement in either direction.

12. In a permutation lock; a movable bolt; tumblers normally locking the bolt against movement; pawls for moving the tumblers to release the bolt; brake shoes mounted to prevent retrograde movement of the tumblers during movement by said pearls; and means. for simultaneously releasin said pawls and said brake shoes.

18. n a permutation lock; .a movable bolt; means for shifting said bolt; tumblers normally locking the bolt against movement; pawls for moving the tumblers to release the bolt; brake shoes mounted to pre vent retrograde movement of the. tumblers during movement by said pawls; means for simultaneously releasing said pawls and said brake shoes; and a cam associated with said bolt shifting means for automatically operating said releasing means whenthe bolt reaches locked or unlocked positions.

In testimony whereof wehave signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK W. SPROWLES. WILLIAM C. FAUNGE.

Witnesses: i

OHAs. E. Porrs, JOHN E. Bunorr; 

